The Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem

Interview with William Spivey

An accomplished writer, award-winning book author, historian, truth teller, and racism fighter

One of my hobbies is interviewing influential writers and introducing them to my audience. I have been conducting writer interviews on Medium since 2019. Writing, editing, and content curation allow me to meet authentic and influential writers and leaders from different backgrounds.

As a postdoctoral fellow and adjunct professor at Australian universities, I conducted countless interviews with senior leaders and entrepreneurs in large corporate organizations as part of my leadership studies. I still interview many leaders and freelancers, especially those in startup companies, solopreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Each interview opened a new window in my life, allowing me to connect meaningfully with another kind soul. I also use these interviews as a cross-pollination tool to inform and empower my readers, fellow writers, and editors/curators of my publications.

As I explained in a previous story titled The Importance and Remarkable Benefits of Interviews in My Professional and Personal Life, these conversations helped me gain insights into their learning and leadership patterns and inspired me to collaborate with them.

In this story, I will introduce an accomplished writer and award-winning author of multiple books, William Spivey, whom I greatly respect.

I have known William for a while as he was an avid contributor and ardent supporter of my beloved ILLUMINATION-Curated, which I had to close with teary eyes two days ago. Many of William’s stories got boosted until July, and then suddenly, curators stopped boosting them for unknown reasons as they did to many established writers such as NYT best-selling author Dr Vic Shayne, which was one of the reasons for my resignation from the boost program.

William or Vic do not care anymore because, as established writers, they have already found success on Substack and shared their progress in their recent stories. I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much as I did conducting it.

Meet William Spivey

Hi Wiliam, tell us a bit about your background.

Hello Dr. Yildiz! Thanks for the opportunity. I grew up in south Minneapolis, MN, in a newly integrated neighborhood. There were several families with kids my age on our block. The boys spent summer days playing capture the flag, whiffle ball, basketball, football, and a baseball card game where I kept stats and honed my math skills. I played sports throughout high school and college and was seen more as a jock than an intellectual. I’m married with three children, nine granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter.

What are your hobbies, or what excites or entertains you?

I enjoy various card games, including double-deck pinochle and bid whist. I love live music and played basketball well into my fifties, though my knees eventually called for a time-out. I also love reading but don’t do enough of it.

What are the top three books that affected your life?

1. Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King — This book details the arrest and trials of the Groveland Four, who were falsely accused of rape. Their story, which unfolded just 25 miles from where I lived, was a shocking revelation for me.
2. The Autobiography of Malcolm X — This powerful narrative has been transformative in shaping my perspective.
3. Roots — This book has had a profound impact on me as well.

Why do you write on Medium?

I started writing on Medium to have my voice heard rather than as a job or for monetary gain. Medium allowed me to build a following of 44,000 and connect with loyal readers who feel like family. While the platform is user-friendly, frustrations with clones and its Boosting program are starting to sour my experience.

Do you write on other platforms like Substack?

Yes, Substack is my current focus. Over the past 30 days, I’ve gained over 300 followers and a dozen paid subscribers, though I’m offering my service for free initially. I’ve had more views on Substack in the past month than on Medium. I’ve been republished in the Good Men Project and Level Magazine and frequently contribute to Our Human Family and Together We Stand.

How do you find these platforms?

I’m still learning Substack and enjoying the process. While some other publications do pay, I see my contributions as a labor of love.

What are your values as a writer?

Truth is my highest value. My pieces are meticulously researched, and while I might draw different conclusions from some historians, my facts are solid. For example, I’ve criticized the portrayal of forced breeding and rape of enslaved people as a “natural increase” and questioned Thomas Jefferson’s role in ending the International Slave Trade.

How do you connect with your readers?

I try to keep up with comments on my stories, though I can only respond to a small fraction. Some readers email me with topic suggestions, which I greatly appreciate.

Who are some writers you follow on Medium?

I follow Allison Wiltz, Walter Rhein, Clay Rivers, Our Human Family, Elwood Watson, Ph.D., Deb C. and a few others, including you, Dr. Yildiz. I continuously learn from this community.

What are the top five stories that you want to share with your audience and why?

1. Did the South Really Win the Civil War,
2. The 1944 Port Chicago Explosions and Subsequent Mutiny Trials,
3. The Three Times America Ended Enslavement and Little Changed,
4. Rape-arations: The Clear Case For Reparations For Black People in America, and
5. The Great Slave Auction Known As the Weeping Time.

Some of these impactful stories never received Boosted status and were seen by only a few hundred readers.

What are the success factors for you as a writer?

I measure success by reader feedback rather than follower count or income. While my 44,000 Medium followers may not all be real, genuine appreciation from readers and commissions from magazines are significant indicators of success. Despite imposter syndrome, I aim for traditional publishing with my upcoming novel, Zain’s Chillun.

What do you recommend to new writers?

Keep honing your craft. Review your early work, take feedback to heart, and keep writing. Reading extensively is equally important.

What are your plans as a writer or professional?

I’m working on publishing Zain’s Chillun with a grant from the AAMBC Book Club. I continue writing 4–7 stories a week for Medium and Substack. If I go to a paid-only model on Substack, I may offer exclusivity. Though my wife suggests starting a podcast, I’m content with writing as it allows me the freedom to write what I want when I want.